1. Incumbency Advantage

3. INCUMBENTS IN 2010INCUMBENTS IN 2012 House 87%House 91% Senate 84%Senate 91%

4. Rep. Harris (R– 1 st ): 67% Rep. Ruppersberger (D– 2 nd ): 66% Rep. Sarbanes (D– 3 rd ): 67% Rep. Edwards (D– 4 th ): 77% Rep. Hoyer (D– 5 th ): 62% Rep. Bartlett (R– 6 th ): 38% Rep. Cummings (D– 7 th ): 76% Rep. Van Hollen (D– 8 th ): 63% *Safe District: One party is heavily favored due to gerrymandering.

6. Average House Member's Annual Budget: $1.4-$1.7 million. Budget pays for such things as: staff salaries, district office expenses, and frank mail.

7. Reasons for Incumbency Advantage Name Recognition Fundraising (Campaign Contributions) Redistricting (2010 Incumbent Results) Experience Constituent Services  Use of staff for CASEWORK  Pork barrel/earmarks  Frank mailing (Frank Mail)

8. Reasons Incumbents Lose Redistricting efforts Scandals Presidential Coattails Midterm Elections

9. “House and Senate” Ross K. Baker What are some of the reasons why it is easier to win reelection in the House?